Founders of Arkham Projects
By Arkham Projects · Published on · Data reviewed on
Arkham Projects was founded in 2013 in Mérida, Yucatán, by Min Peniche Calafell and Jorge Duarte Torre, its founding partners. Min Peniche Calafell (CCO – Dreamshaper) leads the creative direction of all projects; Jorge Duarte Torre (CEO – Dreamchaser) is the firm's executive director and brings the business, efficiency and cost perspective. Both trained in architecture at Universidad Marista de Mérida.[1][2][3][4]
Min Peniche Calafell
CCO – Dreamshaper · Founding partner of Arkham Projects
Min Peniche Calafell is a founding partner of Arkham Projects and leads the creative direction of all the firm's projects.[1]
He was born in Mérida, Yucatán, in 1985. He began his architecture studies at Universidad Marista de Mérida and later studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where, according to the firm, he gained a global perspective on contemporary architecture.[4]
On every project he makes sure the design reflects the essence of the clients, and he specializes in developing concepts that transform spaces and improve the quality of life of the people who live in them. He seeks to integrate elements of the setting and of the local culture into each project.[1]
Education
- Universidad Marista de Mérida: architecture studies[4]
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid: studies in Madrid, after his training in Mérida[4]
Communities
Focus areas
- Creative direction
- Architectural concepts
- Contemporary architecture
- Setting and local culture in design
Talks, panels and juries with a public source
- Premio Interceramic de Arquitectura e Interiorismo 2026 (Interceramic Architecture and Interior Design Award): guest juror.[6]
- Interihotel Madrid 2024 (Madrid, Spain): in the round table «Américas (USA+México+Caribe). Trends, current situation and perspectives» on the Bloom Design day.[7]
- REBS Mérida 2023, Inmobiliare's Real Estate Business Summit (Mérida, Yucatán): panelist in the housing panel «Crecimiento de la oferta residencial en Mérida» (growth of the residential supply in Mérida).[8]
- ELDI 2019, Encuentro Latinoamericano de Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios (Latin American Real Estate Developers Meeting) (Panama City, Panama): talk «Tasa de Retorno de Sueños», on the meeting's agenda, with Jorge Duarte Torre.[9]
Jorge Duarte Torre
CEO – Dreamchaser · Founding partner of Arkham Projects
Jorge Duarte Torre is a founding partner and the executive director of Arkham Projects.[2]
Born in Mérida, Yucatán, in 1985, he graduated in architecture from Universidad Marista de Mérida and continued his studies at ORT Uruguay; according to the firm, that background gives him a comprehensive view of projects, from conception to execution.[2]
He completed a master's degree in senior management at the Gazelle Institute and an innovation program in senior management at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management, which gave him tools to foster creativity and innovation in decision-making. He also took the Programa de Perfeccionamiento Directivo, a management development program, at IPADE Business School.[10][5]
According to the firm, his work optimizing organizational processes keeps Arkham running efficiently and lets the team focus on creating the projects.[11]
Education
- Universidad Marista de Mérida: graduated in architecture[2]
- ORT Uruguay: continued his studies there[2]
- Gazelle Institute: master's degree in senior management[10]
- Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management: innovation program in senior management[10]
- IPADE Business School: Programa de Perfeccionamiento Directivo (management development program)[5]
Communities
- Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): takes part as president[5]
Focus areas
- Executive management
- Senior management
- Innovation in decision-making
- Organizational processes
Talks, panels and juries with a public source
- REBS Mérida 2022, Inmobiliare's Real Estate Business Summit (Mérida, Yucatán): panelist in «Desarrollo inmobiliario con conciencia: cómo salvar al cliente» (conscious real estate development: how to save the client).[12]
- ELDI 2019, Encuentro Latinoamericano de Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios (Latin American Real Estate Developers Meeting) (Panama City, Panama): talk «Tasa de Retorno de Sueños», on the meeting's agenda, with Min Peniche Calafell.[9]
How do the partners take part in your project?
Arkham's team develops, documents and coordinates each project, and the partners take part in the relevant decisions. Min Peniche Calafell brings a mainly creative and architectural vision; Jorge Duarte Torre complements it with a perspective focused on business, efficiency and costs.
This is how the first steps with a new client are shared, for a house or for a development:
- Working meeting with Jorge Duarte Torre, in person or by video call: he explains how Arkham works, the methodology and the scope.
- Kick-off: a 2- to 3-hour session, usually with a site visit. From that day on, Min Peniche Calafell and the residential team or the real estate development team take over the design.
Sources: [3]
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Arkham Projects?
Min Peniche Calafell and Jorge Duarte Torre, in 2013, in Mérida, Yucatán. Both were born in Mérida in 1985 and trained in architecture at Universidad Marista de Mérida. Today Min Peniche Calafell is the firm's CCO – Dreamshaper and Jorge Duarte Torre its CEO – Dreamchaser.
What did Min Peniche Calafell study?
Architecture, at Universidad Marista de Mérida, where he began his training. Later he studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Sources: [4]
What did Jorge Duarte Torre study?
Architecture: he graduated from Universidad Marista de Mérida and continued his studies at ORT Uruguay. He also completed a master's degree in senior management at the Gazelle Institute, an innovation program in senior management at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management and the Programa de Perfeccionamiento Directivo at IPADE Business School.
Which industry events have the founders taken part in?
With a public source: Jorge Duarte Torre and Min Peniche Calafell appear on the agenda of ELDI 2019, in Panama City; Jorge Duarte Torre was a panelist at REBS Mérida 2022 and Min Peniche Calafell at REBS Mérida 2023. Min Peniche Calafell also appears in the programme of Interihotel Madrid 2024 and is a guest juror of the 2026 Premio Interceramic de Arquitectura e Interiorismo.
Will I deal with the partners or only with the team?
With the partners and with the team. The working meeting, before the proposal, is with Jorge Duarte Torre; from the kick-off, Min Peniche Calafell and the residential team or the real estate development team take over the design. The team develops, documents and coordinates the project, and the partners take part in the relevant decisions.
Sources: [3]
Sources
- Arkham Projects (bio de los fundadores) — According to Arkham Projects, Min Peniche Calafell leads the creative direction of all the firm's projects and seeks to integrate elements of the setting and of the local culture into each project. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Arkham Projects (bio de los fundadores) — According to Arkham Projects, Jorge Duarte Torre was born in Mérida, Yucatán, in 1985; he graduated in architecture from Universidad Marista de Mérida and continued his studies at ORT Uruguay, a background that gives him a comprehensive view of projects, from conception to execution. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, the team develops, documents and coordinates each project while the partners take part in the relevant decisions: Min Peniche Calafell brings a mainly creative and architectural vision, and Jorge Duarte Torre complements it with a perspective focused on business, efficiency and costs. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Arkham Projects (bio de los fundadores) — According to Arkham Projects, Min Peniche Calafell was born in Mérida, Yucatán, in 1985; he began his architecture studies at Universidad Marista de Mérida and later studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, Jorge Duarte Torre took the Programa de Perfeccionamiento Directivo (management development program) at IPADE Business School and takes part in Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) as president; Min Peniche Calafell is also a member of EO and takes part in CRACKS. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Premio Interceramic de Arquitectura e Interiorismo: jurado — Min Peniche Calafell is a guest juror of the 2026 Premio Interceramic de Arquitectura e Interiorismo (Interceramic Architecture and Interior Design Award). (accessed on October 11, 2026)
- Interihotel Madrid 2024: programa oficial (PDF) — Min Peniche Calafell appears in the programme of Interihotel Madrid 2024, in the round table «Américas (USA+México+Caribe). Trends, current situation and perspectives» on the Bloom Design day, November 19, 2024. (accessed on October 11, 2026)
- Inmobiliare: programa del REBS Mérida 2023 — Min Peniche Calafell took part in the housing panel «Crecimiento de la oferta residencial en Mérida» (growth of the residential supply in Mérida) at REBS Mérida 2023, the Real Estate Business Summit organized by Inmobiliare. (accessed on October 11, 2026)
- ELDI 2019: agenda del encuentro (copia de la Wayback Machine) — Jorge Duarte Torre and Min Peniche Calafell appear on the agenda of ELDI 2019, the Latin American Real Estate Developers Meeting (Encuentro Latinoamericano de Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios) in Panama City, with the talk «Tasa de Retorno de Sueños» on June 12, 2019. (accessed on October 11, 2026)
- Arkham Projects (bio de los fundadores) — According to Arkham Projects, Jorge Duarte Torre completed a master's degree in senior management at the Gazelle Institute and an innovation program in senior management at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management, which gave him tools to foster creativity and innovation in decision-making. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Arkham Projects (bio de los fundadores) — According to Arkham Projects, Jorge Duarte Torre's work optimizing organizational processes keeps the firm running efficiently and lets the team focus on creating the projects. (accessed on October 3, 2026)
- Inmobiliare: «Verticalización, infraestructura y evolución digital; retos del boom inmobiliario en Mérida» — Jorge Duarte Torre took part in the panel «Desarrollo inmobiliario con conciencia: cómo salvar al cliente» (conscious real estate development: how to save the client) at REBS Mérida 2022, the Real Estate Business Summit organized by Inmobiliare. (accessed on October 11, 2026)
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About Arkham Projects
Arkham Projects is a Mexican architecture and design firm with national and international experience that specializes in real estate development, high-end residential architecture, master plans and hospitality, and seeks to combine differentiation and creativity in design with efficiency and an understanding of the needs of the business and the user.
- more than 100 projects
- more than 70 national and international awards and recognitions
- founded in Mérida in 2013
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